Given a chance in Class AAA, minor leaguer finds it's non-stop partying with Royals' club

Thursday

Sep 19, 2013 at 12:01 AMSep 19, 2013 at 12:43 AM

Bob Sutton / Times-News

ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Lane Adams just wanted a taste of the Class AAA level this year to help validate his progress in the Kansas City Royals organization.

He probably never realized it would be so sweet.

“Just having fun and celebrating every other day, that’s what it seems like,” Adams said after helping the Omaha Storm Chasers win Tuesday night’s Triple-A National Championship game against the Durham Bulls. “You never know if it’s going to happen again, so you might as well enjoy it.”

Adams, an outfielder, was assigned to Kansas City’s top farm club at the beginning of the postseason when the parent team called up some Omaha players.

There was a Pacific Coast League semifinal series sweep of Oklahoma City, a finals series victory against Salt Lake and then the toppling of the Durham Bulls for the overall crown at Coca-Cola Park.

So even though the Storm Chasers had a losing record in the regular season, their 7-1 mark in the postseason — or since the 23-year-old Adams joined them — brought about bottle-popping revelry almost every time they returned to the clubhouse.

Two years ago, Adams was playing for the Burlington Royals. Two months earlier, he was with the Wilmington (Del.) BlueRocks of the Class A Carolina League.

His stock might keep rising after he posted five hits across the final two games combined.

“It’s definitely a great opportunity every time you get a chance to jump up, especially in the playoffs where the Royals actually think you can help the team at a higher level win,” Adams said.

Adams said he benefited from being around older players when he landed on the Omaha roster.

He moved to the Class AA Northwest Arkansas Naturals of the Texas League on July 17. When that team’s season closed earlier this month, he was set for a break before heading to the Arizona Fall League.

“I had everything packed up ready to go home and they call us in the office after our last game and said we were going to join the Omaha team in Oklahoma City to start the playoffs,” he said of himself and a couple of teammates. “That’s how I found out. It was pretty exciting. I started off the playoffs in Oklahoma City, so that was kind of cool. It has been a lot of fun. I’ve enjoyed it.”

The next day, he drove to Oklahoma City — for an appearance in his home state. Then it became a whirlwind as the Storm Chasers kept advancing and Adams did his part.

“I’ve seen a guy that can run. He’s just a threat because you get him on base, he can take the extra base,” Omaha manager Mike Jirschele said. “He can steal bases and in the outfield he runs it down.”

Adams doubled and scored the first run in the Triple-A National Championship game, which ended 2-1 in Omaha’s favor.

“Aside from winning, you just get a taste of what Triple-A is like,” he said. “The adjustments (you have to make). How it differs from Double-A to Triple-A and how they go about business up here and see how they do things up here.

“There is a difference. Pitchers really don’t really give in as much. It’s more of a mental game. Instead of playing checkers, you’re playing chess up here. It’s definitely more of a mental game and more just bearing down and being mentally locked in and just competing every pitch.”

All the circumstances lined up just right for Adams, who batted .276 for Wilmington and .244 for Northwest Arkansas.

You lose guys (to the big leagues), it’s also getting guys experience,” Scott Sharp, director of player development for Kansas City, said of Adams’ promotion.

Next, Adams goes to Kansas City for Friday night’s honoring of the organization’s Player of the Year at each affiliate. He won the distinction for Wilmington.

That seemed like a long time ago after Adams’ sudden postseason success at two levels higher.

“It’s just crazy how things work. Anything can happen,” he said. “There’s no telling how things will shake out or what will happen after spring training. Just kind of proving I can handle Triple-A and I just wasn’t overmatched. For a few days I was, I had to make adjustments and slow stuff down and that’s just what learning and developing in baseball is all about.

“I really wanted to experience Triple-A this year and see what it’s all about so I think that’s big for me going down the road.”